Simmons Hanly Conroy

Simmons Hanly Conroy is an Illinois-based national trial law firm 1 that specializes in mesothelioma and asbestos, prescription drugs, 2 personal injury, and other litigation cases. 3 4 5 6

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At-A-Glance

Type: For-profit
Website: www.simmonsfirm.com
Status:

For-Profit

Formation:

1999

Chairman:

John Simmons

Location: Alton, IN View on map

Contents

    Simmons Hanly Conroy employees support “a lot of Democrats” running for public office. 7 Between 2017 and 2020, 99 percent of the approximately $1.75 million of Federal Election Commission (FEC)-reportable contributions from its employees went to Democrats and other left-of-center organizations. 8

    Individuals affiliated with Simmons Hanly Conroy contributed $246,317 to the presidential campaign of Joe Biden (D) in 2020. 9 While known as SimmonsCooper, individuals associated with the firm contributed $196,500 to support then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE)’s campaigns. 10

    Simmons Hanly Conroy has written that it is “committed” to the critical race theory-influenced concept of racial justice and believes “the work towards racial justice is far from over.” 11

    History and Leadership

    Simmons Hanly Conroy was originally founded in 1999 by John Simmons to work on asbestos illness-related litigation. 3 In 2000, Jeff Cooper joined the firm, which came to be known as SimmonsCooper LLC. 12 In 2009, SimmonsCooper LLC changed its name to Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC. 12

    John Simmons is Simmons Hanly Conroy’s chairman. 13 Laurence Nassif was named Simmons Hanly Conroy’s managing shareholder in 2022. 13

    Activities and Funding

    Simmons Hanly Conroy is an Illinois-based trial law firm that specializes in mesothelioma and asbestos, prescription drug 2 and medical device, consumer protection, personal injury, commercial and environmental law, and sexual abuse cases. 3 4 5 6

    Simmons Hanly Conroy has won more than $9.6 billion in verdicts and settlements for its clients. 3 Simmons Hanly Conroy has represented local governments in major litigation and been considered a leader in plaintiff-side trial firms by the National Law Journal. 14 8

    Simmons Hanly Conroy has expressed that it is “committed” to the critical race theory-influenced concept of racial justice and believes “the work towards racial justice is far from over.” 11 The law firm also supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of social justice. 15 Following the death of George Floyd, Simmons Hanly Conroy announced its intention to hire a “diversity and inclusion consultant” to guide its diversity committee. 15

    Simmons Hanly Conroy is a supporter of left-progressive Public Interest Law Center. 16

    Simmons Hanly Conroy is headquartered in Alton, Illinois, and has additional offices in New York City; El Segundo, California; San Francisco, California; and St. Louis, Missouri. 17

    Political Contributions

    Simmons Hanly Conroy members and staff have been large supporters of Democratic Party candidates and campaign committees. According to former partner Michael Angelides, the firm supports “a lot of Democrats.” 7 The law firm will be a gold sponsor of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association 2023 County Brunch. 18

    Between 2017 and 2020, 99 percent of approximately $1.75 million of Federal Election Commission (FEC)-reportable contributions from Simmons Hanly Conroy and its employees went to Democrats and other left-of-center organizations. More than $750,000 of that total went to Democratic Senate candidates and related political committees. 8

    As of October 2022, persons associated with Simmons Hanly Conroy have contributed $281,558 in support of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-WI), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Prairie PAC,  Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and others in the 2022 election cycle. 19

    In 2020, individuals affiliated with Simmons Hanly Conroy contributed $246,317 to the presidential campaign of Joe Biden (D). 9 In 2019, Simmons Hanly Conroy chairman John Simmons hosted a fundraiser for the Biden campaign in Chicago, Illinois. 20 21

    In 2016, individuals affiliated with Simmons Hanley Conroy contributed $992,500 to Democrats and Democratic Party-affiliated committees and $0 to Republicans. 22 That same year, Simmons Hanley Conroy donors contributed $250,000 to Fair Courts Now Political Action Committee, which has been involved in judicial races in Southern Illinois. 23

    Former SimmonsCooper partner Jeff Cooper was friends with Joe Biden’s sons, the late former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden (D) and Hunter Biden. From 2003 to 2008, SimmonsCooper donated $196,500 to Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE)’s campaigns. 10

    According to reports from the Los Angeles Times, the Biden family had close ties with SimmonsCooper. When Joe Biden’s brother James and son Hunter had planned to buy a hedge fund, SimmonsCooper initially put forward $1 million of a promised $2 million to invest in the fund. The Bidens returned the money to the firm after the deal did not materialize. 7 7

    Funding

    Simmons Hanly Conroy is a for-profit law firm. 5 Since its founding, the firm has won more than $9.6 billion in verdicts and settlements for its clients. 3 This figure includes a $250 million verdict for a U.S. Steel worker regarding asbestos, the largest award in history for an asbestos illness verdict. 3

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    References

    1. “Contact Us Today.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/contact-us/
    2. “Simmons Hanly Conroy Files Lawsuit for New York’s Dutchess County against Drug Companies over Opioids Epidemic and Addiction.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. June 7, 2017. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/news/item/simmons-hanly-conroy-files-lawsuit-new-yorks-dutchess-county-drug-companies-opioids-epidemic-addiction/.
    3. “Who We Are.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/about-us/who-we-are/.
    4. “Home.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/.
    5. “Cases We Handle.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/cases-we-handle/.
    6. “Home.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/about-us/.
    7.  Chuck Neubauer and Tom Hamburger. “Biden family ties pose questions.” Los Angeles Times. August 28, 2008. Accessed via Web Archive October 30, 2022. https://archive.ph/ahqex.
    8. Skinner, O.H. “Shady Trial Lawyer Pipeline Update.” Alliance for Consumers. January 2022. Accessed October 26, 2022. https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.190.196/h7r.c37.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AFC_Shady-Trial-Lawyer-Pipeline-Report.pdf.
    9. “Simmons Hanly Conroy.” Open Secrets Organizational Summary. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/simmons-hanly-conroy/summary?topnumcycle=2022&contribcycle=2022&lobcycle=2022&outspendcycle=2022&id=D000022252&toprecipcycle=2020.
    10. Volkmann, Kelsey. “Biden backer SimmonsCooper gives $196,050.” St. Louis Business Journal. September 28, 2008. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/09/29/story8.html.
    11. “Following the Incredible Example of Judge Luther W. Simmons on Juneteenth 2022.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. June 17, 2022. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/blog/following-the-incredible-example-of-judge-luther-w-simmons-on-juneteenth-2022/.
    12. “SimmonsCooper LLC Changes Name to Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. July 20, 2009. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/news/item/simmonscooper-llc-changes-name-to-simmons-browder-gianaris-angelides-barnerd-llc/.
    13. “Simmons Hanly Conroy Announces Laurence V. Nassif as New Managing Shareholder. May 20, 2022. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/news/item/laurence-v-nassif-managing-shareholder/.
    14. Simmons Hanly Conroy Named One of National Law Journal’s 2016 ‘Elite Trial Lawyers’ for a Third Year.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. November 1, 2016. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/news/item/simmons-hanly-conroy-named-one-national-law-journals-2016-elite-trial-lawyers-third-year/.
    15. “Firm Statement on Diversity & Inclusion.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. June 26, 2020. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/about-us/diversity-inclusion/.
    16. “Institutional Supporters.” The Public Interest Law Center. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://pubintlaw.org/institutional-supporters/.
    17. [1] “Who We Are.” Simmons Hanly Conroy. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.simmonsfirm.com/about-us/who-we-are/.
    18. “About the County Chairs’ Brunch.” The Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association 2023 County Chairs’ Brunch. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://ildccabrunch.org/.
    19. “Simmons Hanly Conroy.” Open Secrets. Accessed October 26, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/simmons-hanly-conroy/summary?id=D000022252.
    20. Sweet, Lynn. “Joe and Jill Biden hit Chicago for fundraisers Monday.” Chicago Sun-Times. December 2, 2019. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/12/2/20992497/joe-jill-biden-chicago-fundraisers-presidential-campaign.
    21. Stoll, Ira. “Trial Lawyers Are Betting Big on Biden.” Reason magazine. March 9, 2020. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://reason.com/2020/03/09/trial-lawyers-are-betting-big-on-biden/.
    22. “Simmons Hanly Conroy.” Open Secrets Totals. 2016 Totals. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/simmons-hanly-conroy/totals?id=D000022252.
    23. Brueggemann, Brian. “Plaintiff lawyers pile up nearly $1M for ads against GOP judge candidates.” Belleville News-Democrat. October 28, 2016. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article110780042.html.